There has been no more popular athlete of the last 50 years than Michael Jordan. The legendary Chicago Bull revolutionized the game of basketball and collectors seek out not only his shoes and apparel but also his basketball cards. The crown jewel of many a collection is #23's 1986 Fleer rookie card. Unfortunately, the card comes at such a cost that many collectors are priced out. And in some cases, collectors can even purchase rarer and more expensive cards. Below are some fun alternatives to that famous issue.
1985 Star Gatorade Slam Dunk
After the 1981 season, Topps stopped producing basketball cards. Fleer's set would not come until 1986. A company called Star moved in to bridge the gap. In 1985, the cardmaker created a set to commemorate the 1985 Slam Dunk contest, where Jordan fell to Dominique Wilkins.
The cards were distributed in polybags, which made them more prone to damage. Beckett Grading Services is the only grader who will authenticate the Star Cards, which also had a serious issue with counterfeiting. The cards, which predate the 86-87 Fleer set, are regularly available online, though collectors are encouraged to only buy graded copies. A BGS 8 of the Jordan Slam Dunk card sells for around $2,000.
1985 Nike Promo Card
No athlete has ever been more associated with a brand than Michael Jordan is with Nike. The shooting guard's career ended two decades ago, but Air Jordan sneakers are still released each year. In 1985, the relationship between Jordan and Nike was still young and the shoe company put out a promo card to celebrate the player.
The promo card, which features Jordan skying for a dunk, is regularly graded by authenticators and was released prior to his famous Fleer rookie. The issue has become more popular over the years and a PSA copy can be had for a little under $3,000.
1985 Prism Stickers
The 1985 Prism sticker set contains a rookie card for both Jordan and New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing. The cards were only available via coin-operated machines in grocery stores. Since most people who purchased the cards peeled the stickers and put them on something, they are incredibly rare. They are also subject to counterfeiting which means that collectors shouldn't only buy copies that had been professionally graded.
For the most part, that rarity means that the card will often sell for more than the 86 Fleer. The outlier would be a PSA 10 version. An 86 Fleer in that condition would sell for more than $250,000, while the Jewel sticker would sell for around $40K.
1986 Fleer Sticker
Jordan's regular issue wasn't his only card in the legendary 1986 Fleer set. The offering also featured a set of sticker cards that were included with each pack. Like other stickers, these could be hard to find in quality conditions since many of the stickers were peeled off the original card.
Collectors have long decided to purchase Jordan sticker rookie cards rather than the more expensive alternative and many of them have continued to do so. A PSA copy of the rookie Jordan sticker sells for a little under $2,000 in a PSA 8 grade.
1984 Star
Jordan's very first card came in the 1984-86 Star set. As noted above, these issues are incredibly rare and subject to both poor condition and counterfeiting. And again, the only company that grades and verifies the authenticity of these cards is Beckett.
Due in part to the rarity of these cards, they may sell for more than their 86 Fleer counterparts. In May of 2021, a Star rookie of Jordan graded in a BGS 9 sold for more than $109,000. A BGS 9 of the 86 Fleer rookie is available for under $15,000.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.